Including evidence of relationship with I-129F or not

[Love's JAA 100]

I am reading the NOLO legal guide to Fiance and Marriage Visas. This guide recommends including the evidence of relationship with the fiance visa petition. They suggest answering question 18 of the petition (explanation/proof of having met in person within last two years) with additional explanation of the relationship and including evidence of not only having met (plane boarding passes, visa stamps, receipts, photos together) but also of the ongoing relationship (phone records, honeymoon itinerary, wedding caterer reservations, emails, etc).

I have heard others recommend this as well, but from what I have found so far here at VJ it seems most just suggest answering Question 18 simply and leaving the evidence of relationship for the interview. Since the whole file is to be forwarded to the local consulate, is it not a good idea to include that info as well? The rationale, that the consulate has more info upfront so less questions later?

I appreciate any thoughts on this that anyone's willing to share. Thank you.

[KimberlyAhmed 28]

I answered that question with alot of detail. How we met, what are plans are for the future, where we were planning and when to get married(tentative), details of honeymoon to take and where we were going to live. I also included things my fiance plan to do once he is here. I did include not only pictures of when I was there of the two of us, but ones with his family, phone bills, emails we wrote back and forth, letters and chat logs. Our petition was just approved on Saturday.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Some thing front loading the petition is a good idea, but USCIS has no requirment for anything more then proving that you have met within the last two years. If you want to toss some extras in I am sure it won't hurt but no reason to over load the packet either include just a sampling of everything.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

I am reading the NOLO legal guide to Fiance and Marriage Visas. This guide recommends including the evidence of relationship with the fiance visa petition. They suggest answering question 18 of the petition (explanation/proof of having met in person within last two years) with additional explanation of the relationship and including evidence of not only having met (plane boarding passes, visa stamps, receipts, photos together) but also of the ongoing relationship (phone records, honeymoon itinerary, wedding caterer reservations, emails, etc).

I have heard others recommend this as well, but from what I have found so far here at VJ it seems most just suggest answering Question 18 simply and leaving the evidence of relationship for the interview. Since the whole file is to be forwarded to the local consulate, is it not a good idea to include that info as well? The rationale, that the consulate has more info upfront so less questions later?

I appreciate any thoughts on this that anyone's willing to share. Thank you.

You will get a variety of responses. NONE of this is required for petition approval. I provided NO evidence of relationship, two sentences describing our meeting and ONE photo with no dates or explanation. Approved in 58 days no RFEs. Visa approved with no questions asked.

A petition is not a visa. Getting the NOA2 is easy, getting the visa may not be so easy. There is the belief among some that adding this info to the petition could help you get a VISA, it will NOT help get the petition approved. All of it is sent to the consulate and at some consulates it may help.

What we DO know is that there is no penalty for including more information and it is usually no more involved than some copies and a few cents extra postage, so if you are dealing with a difficult consulate or it just makes you happy...why not?

Just do not imagine it is going to make the petition go faster or easier or better. It will not. Also do not assume since you sent it before you do not need to bring it to the interview again...you do.

[Love's JAA 100]

Thank you for the replies.

[GandK 168]

I think it depends on which country you are from and your circumstances.

If you only have met once during the past two years for a very short period, then I would maybe include a little evidence but not too much that it overwhelms the adjudicator.